Police confirm five dead as tanker explodes in Delta

The Police Command in Delta State has confirmed that five persons lost their lives in a petrol tanker explosion in the State.

The spokesman of the command, DSP Bright Edafe, made this known on Sunday.

News Men had reported that many were feared dead and cars burnt as a tanker laden with fuel exploded in Delta on Sunday.

Edafe said the incident occurred at Ugbenu in Ethiope West Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.

He said that the tanker, laden with petrol, was heading towards Benin City in the morning when the unfortunate incident happened.

“In the early hours of Oct. 1, 2023, at about 0200hrs, the Command recorded a tragic incident where a tanker, laden with petroleum product, being driven towards Benin on the Warri-Benin Road fell at Ugbenu Koko Junction.

“Its content spilled into the nearby swamp and the spillage attracted a couple of youths who took advantage of the incident and started scooping fuel into jerry cans and other containers.

“While they were at it, an explosion erupted and the fire from the explosion engulfed the whole area.

“The fire claimed the lives of five persons among the youths who had come to scoop fuel,” Edafe said.

He said that several properties, including eight buses of different makes, two tankers, five trailers, two motorcycles, a Sienna space wagon and a ‘C’ Class Mercedes Benz car were also burnt.

Edafe added that the remains of the victims had been deposited at the Oghara General Hospital’s morgue in Ethiope West.

He said that the police operatives attached to the Oghara division, in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) at Ethiope West, had mobilised to the scene to ensure the free flow of traffic.